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The manager of a quarry where a worker was crushed to death on-site in central Queensland has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for safety breaches.

Sean Scovell, 21, was killed after he became entangled in a running conveyor belt at the South Moranbah Quarry, north-west of Rockhampton in central Queensland, in June 2012.

MCG Quarries was charged with three counts of breaching health and safety obligations, while its managing director William McDonald and senior executive Tony Addinsall were also charged with multiple safety breaches.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court heard the conveyor belt had not had guard panels for protection and management should have known about the issue.

McDonald was ordered to serve six months of his sentence behind bars before being eligible for parole in November 2019.

The company, which is now insolvent, was fined $400,000 for breaching health and safety obligations.

Mr Addinsall was fined $35,000, but no conviction was recorded.

'Prioritising commercial interests over safety issues'

Prosecutor Glen Rice had told the court the plant was in production without proper assembly or regular equipment inspections.